The visit of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Italy, marked by a warm reception and the signing of strategic partnership agreements between the two countries, became a major topic for numerous French media outlets “particularly the far-right” reflecting a deep sense of frustration in Paris over the loss of a vital partner amid the rise of far-right influence that has strained relations between Algeria and France.
Far-right French media, which have relentlessly attempted to paint a negative image of Algeria, struggled to digest the visit’s significance and the momentum it generated, especially in light of the strategic agreements that laid the groundwork for a new era in Algerian-Italian relations.
The visit received substantial attention on the far-right “CNews” channel, which appeared to be among the most aggrieved and bitter in its coverage of the visit. Even the solemn reception ceremonies and the mutual respect displayed were enough to cause visible discomfort in French commentary.
Louis de Raguenel, a journalist with CNews, said:
“The solemn reception by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune clearly shows she is not afraid of France’s stance. It is painful for us, as French citizens, to witness such scenes of reception and ceremony.”
Bernard Cohen-Hadad, a French political analyst, added:
“I await what will happen in the coming days regarding the fate of Franco-Italian relations, as well as our relationship with Spain, which has taken a position hostile to France. Certainly, we are not happy, as French people, to see our country receive such a heavy diplomatic slap.”
Algeria’s new strategy of building relationships and diversifying partnerships based on mutual interests, away from domination, dependency, and dictation, has clearly irritated French far-right lobbies. These groups have been forced to confront a new Algerian reality: a nation increasingly open to the world through strategic partnerships across the European continent, including Slovenia, Germany, and Belgium, in addition to collaborations with various global economies.
This new strategy has left the French far right still shackled by colonial illusions and coercive approaches realizing too late that arm-twisting policies through blackmail and media propaganda will only deepen Paris’s isolation. The dual leadership of French right-wing figures Bruno Retailleau and Marine Le Pen seems only to be driving further losses for the Élysée.
